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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. cap — a lid
  3. face — to point toward
  4. spell — letters
  5. face — to confront
  6. cap — a hat
  7. band — a music group
  8. prune — to trim
  9. ground — the earth
  10. ground — crushed
  11. cap — of ice
  12. spell — magic
  13. ground — a position
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. spell — a short time
  16. band — a ring
  17. suit — to fit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. face — part of the head
  21. suit — in cards
  22. prune — to trim
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. prune — the fruit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com